Finally Found a Clamping Solution I am Happy With!

[gene35146]

I have not been a fan of the clamps that you buy with the AR8 Pro and have been searching for something that is easy, economical, and works.

In a perfect world I would have a vacuum clamp but they are too expensive given the full table ones. I have tried the little pods you can buy and didn't like those either.

Finally I found these low profile clamps from legacy woodworking.  They actually have a video using the clamps and then lifting the 900 pound table.

lwmcnc.com/cnc-accessories/


I created a couple of little jigs and bought a 24" T Track from Amazon (1/4 inch) and mounted it at both ends of my table using t bolts and screw knobs.

I have not created ones for the side mounting in case you want to do tiling length wise but it would work the same way.

I also have a slot in the middle of my table so you can put the end portion in the middle.  If the spacing is not right just put a spacer block in between.

The clamps are $69 a pair, I found three (3) on either end works great you could probably get by with two (2) if you had to.

The T Track from Amazon were $11.99 each.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IBXZOWG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can use the portion that adjusts in between the spoiler board if you just get a longer 5mm machine bolt if you needed to.

So for as cheap as $100 you can clamp with confidence.  I cant count the number of pieces that slipped out using the standard clamps.

Attachments:

[jesse]

Those look very useful. Do they bite into the side of the wood or just push against?

[Deleted]

Those are new parts, a lot like Mite-bites. You could make some as well. I make clamps out of recycled tongue and groove maple or oak flooring. I cut the bottom off the groove side then I can use either end to hold down with the lip available.

[gene35146]

I have been using it on 3/4 maple plywood and you can not see a dent in the side when you take it off. I also made a set with bessy clamps that I use when I am not working on the edges of the material using the same jig template with a slight modification.

[mibrian]

Went to a vectric seminar put on by Legacy and bought a set of their clamps like that . I like your set-up, going to give it a try.

[aluomala]

I looked at purchasing a set, and the shipping price (to Canada) was ridiculous: $45US. Unless those things have the density of lead or gold, I can't understand how it would cost that much to ship them across the border. I have bought $600+ in bits from ToolsToday and only paid $95 for next day shipping and duty/taxes. I'm pretty certain that I would have still been on the hook for duty/taxes if I bought those 2 clamps from Legacy. They look nice, but not $150 (all in) nice.

[laflippin]

Not trying to distract from the OP's clamping solution, but thought I'd offer up an alternative. I also had some trouble early on with the standard Axiom clamps slipping a bit during a pocket cut... I hadn't thought much about it before the slippage incident ruined a project but the Axiom clamps are just slick polished aluminum with a coat of paint. I went to the hardware store and picked up a can of Plasti-Dip (the dipping product, not the spray-on version) and gave the business end of the Axiom clamps a few coats.


Works great! I have not had a project slip under these clamps since doing this. Plasti-Dip makes a somewhat soft plastic coating such as found on many tool handles...it grips much more effectively than the original metal surface of the clamps did.

[aluomala]

Nov 25, 2018 13:32:39 GMT -5 laflippin said:

Not trying to distract from the OP's clamping solution, but thought I'd offer up an alternative. I also had some trouble early on with the standard Axiom clamps slipping a bit during a pocket cut... I hadn't thought much about it before the slippage incident ruined a project but the Axiom clamps are just slick polished aluminum with a coat of paint. I went to the hardware store and picked up a can of Plasti-Dip (the dipping product, not the spray-on version) and gave the business end of the Axiom clamps a few coats.


Works great! I have not had a project slip under these clamps since doing this. Plasti-Dip makes a somewhat soft plastic coating such as found on many tool handles...it grips much more effectively than the original metal surface of the clamps did.

That is a great idea! I hadn't thought of it, and I am definitely going to try it. I have had pieces slip (usually when I'm just using the edge of the clamp, on a weird angle) and I have destroyed a few projects due to it. I bought the linear clamp kit "stops" and when they can be used, they are helpful to hold things in place (stopping lateral movement), but they can't always be used (especially on pieces that are almost the same size as the spoil board). The rubberized clamp trick should come in handy.

Allan